Spark intensifier



May 1s, 1923.v 1,455,410 v l. J. AMATO SPARK INTENSIFIER Enga nec. 22 191s Y M a MN rlllllllfln/egr/ll.

Patented May 15, 1923.

UNiTsn-sraras PATENT'orFlc151.]`

IRVING J'. AMATO, OF PITTSEIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONIli-HIQI '.LOl

RAYMOND I). TUFTS, 0F PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS. s

SPARK NTENSIFIER.

Application filed December 22, 1919. Serial No. 346,577.

To all 197mm t may concern? Be it known that I, IRVING J. AMATO, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsfield, in the'county of Berkshire and State of Massachusettahave invented certain new and useful improvements in Spark Intensifiers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in spark intensifiers especially adapted for use on thespark plugs of internal combustion engines. f V f An important object of this invention is to provide a spark intensifier for spark plugs having novel means for forming a spark gap by arranging one end of the feed cable in spaced relation to the post or tongue whereby the terminal of the cable is caused to'function as one side of the gap.

I A further object of this invention is to provide a spark intensier for spark plugs having novel Ameans whereby the same may be rapidly and securely attached to one end portion of a feed cable without the necessity of entirely detaching the feed cable from the motor. y v

A further object of the invention is to provide a spark` intensifier for spark plugs having novel means whereby the spark created upon jumping thc gap may be readily viewed. s

A further object of the invention is to provide a spark intensifier for spark plugs which is efficient and desirable in use and which may be manufactured and sold at an extremely low cost.

Other objectsand advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following Idescription.

In the accompanying drawing forminga part of this application and in which'like numerals vare employed throughout the same to designate likeparts: f 'A Figure 1 is a side relevation ofthe improved spark intensier applied,

Figure 2 is a perspective of the same, Figure 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the same, and

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 4 4I of Figure 3.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose.

of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 generally designates an mternal combustion .ein

gine to which is attached a spark plug 6 of any desired type.y The improved spark ntensifier generally designated by the numeral 7 Ais formed from a single Ablank'cf metal` which may be of copper or any material having the qualities necessary to conduct `electric current. As illustrated in Figure`2, 'the blank of metal 7 is of elongated formation and has one end portion arranged in cylindrical formationvfor forming an attachlng device 8 for a feed cable 9. The cylindrical attaching device thus formed is provided `with an annular groove. 10 within y which is received a split ring 11 adapted i for securely retaining the attaching device` 8 in. engagement with the cable. The `annular groove 10-is provided by pressing the cylinl drical attaching device inwardly thereby to form the annular'shoulder 12 which firmly grips the cable and thereby locks the forward end of the cable within the cylindrical yforming an interiorly arranged annular attachingportion 8 without the necessity'of employing solder or other fastening means a's-ls customary in devices of this character. rlhe cable 9, of course, is Vprovided with the usual insulation and conductor wire 13 whichhas connection with a source of electrical energy such as a storage batteryor magneto. A tongue 14 is struck up from the bottom or under side of the cylindrical attaching member 8 for forming a spark gap in cooperation with the forward end of the wire fact that by interrupting the current during its'passage to the .electrodes of the spark plugs, the v(zurrentis intensified for creating s a hotter spark `at the sparking point of the spark plugn l l' It will be noted with reference to Figure 4 that the sides of the tapered tongue or post 14 are spaced a greater distance from the sides of the cylindrical bcdy than the point ing over the gap may be viewed.

treniely low cost.

cylindrical body. rlhe tongue 14 is capable; of manual adjustment with relationto the forward end of the wire kv13 so that the spark gap may be varied at will according to cireumstances.

The meeting edges of the cylindrical attaching body S are provided with semi-circular openings 15 which form a sight opening directly over the tongue 14 and the for ward end of the wire 13 so that at any time during theuse of the device the spark jump- Also the opposed semi-circular openings 15 provide means whereby a small tool may be engaged with the struck up tongue .14 for adjusting the same with rela-tionI tothe forward end of the wire 13. The forward portion ofthe cylindrical attaching body 8 has its meeting edges overlapped, as indicated at 16, for strengthening and reinforcing the entire de'- vice. The forward portion of the cylindrical attaching body 8 is provided with an eX- tension 17 having a centrally arranged open` .ing 18 adapted to receive the post or con-V ductor 19 of the spark plug. A suitable binding nut 2() is threaded on the post 19 and vserves to securely attach the device to the spark plug.

Vith reference tothe foregoing it will be noted that the improved spark intensifier may beeconomically stamped from a single blank of metal and'by reason of the fact that the saine maybe so manufactured, the device may be placed upon the market at an eX- Also it will be, noted that the device may be readily attached to the feed cable of the ignition system without the exercise of skill or .vithout the necessity of .soldering or screwing the cable in position. lWhen it isdesired to connect the cable to the cylindrical attaching device S, the forward end of the same is inserted within said cylindrical deviceand the split ring, which is preferably of spring metal, is received within the groove 10 so as to cause the annular shoulder 12 to .firmly grip the cable. By this construction'the cable is securely held at its forward end portion within the cvlindrical attaching device and is prevented from acci-` dental displacement as result of vibration of the motor.'A f

. -As .the device when applied is onlyv of a slightly greater diameter than the cable, the possibility of shortk circuiting the system as the result of using' the device is remote. ln addition to kfunctioning as a spark intensilier, the device of course functions as afterminal connecting device and displaces the terior annular groove forming an interior j annular shoulder adapted for gripping a" feed cable, and a split ring arranged within said annular groove, said body being provided witli a post.

3'. A spark intensifier including a longitudinally split body having means for gripping a feed cable, the meeting edges ofv said body being provided with opposed'openings forming a sight opening, said body being pro vided with a post. y f

4L. A spark intensifier including a longitudinally split bony; having its meeting edges provided with semi-circular openings forming Aa -siglit opening, the meeting edges of said cylindrical body beyond said sight opening being overlapped for Astrengthening and reinforcing the body, said bodyy being provided with a post. ,y

5. A spark intensifier including a body having means at its rear endportion for securely gripping a feedeable, said body being provided with a tongue vhaving a pointed end arranged in spaced relation to the forward end of said cable for Aforming a spark gap and in spaced relation to the sides lof said body, said body being provided with a ,sightv opening adjacentsaid tongue, and any eXten-V sion carried by said body and adapted for engaging a spark plug.

6. The' combination Awith cylindrical body havingits rear end portion provided with an annular groove thereby forming an interior shoulder, of a feed cable having its ward end of said cable .for cooperating withv the 'cable in forming a spark gap, said body being providedl with a sight opening, andan extension formedintegral with the forward end of said-body and having means for engaging a spark plug.

In testimony whereof I. affix my signature.

iRviNe JAMATO. [esj 

